Gene
Boy name · #2233 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Gene? In official American birth records, Gene has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 63 baby boys were named Gene, placing it at #2233 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2086, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 28,571 boys born in 2025 was named Gene.
The 145-year story
Gene first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 7 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1937, when 3,165 boys were named Gene — good for #61 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Gene per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Gene against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Gene in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Gene is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Gene will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Gene is most common
State-level data for Gene is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Gene
Statistically, parents drawn to Gene tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Eugene, Duane, Bennie, Jimmie, and Lonnie.
EugeneDuaneBennieJimmieLonnieGlenJohnnieJoe
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Gene | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 63 | #2230 |
| 2024 | 83 | #1902 |
| 2023 | 76 | #1999 |
| 2022 | 74 | #2039 |
| 2021 | 81 | #1884 |
| 2020 | 96 | #1655 |
| 2019 | 80 | #1868 |
| 2018 | 64 | #2167 |
| 2017 | 88 | #1746 |
| 2016 | 79 | #1875 |
| 2015 | 67 | #2086 |
| 2014 | 53 | #2402 |
| 2013 | 67 | #2021 |
| 2012 | 71 | #1983 |
| 2011 | 61 | #2145 |
| 2010 | 65 | #2069 |
| 2009 | 81 | #1825 |
| 2008 | 79 | #1838 |
| 2007 | 85 | #1741 |
| 2006 | 95 | #1551 |
| 2005 | 93 | #1525 |
| 2004 | 109 | #1343 |
| 2003 | 106 | #1310 |
| 2002 | 99 | #1332 |
| 2001 | 129 | #1100 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Gene?
In official American birth records, the name Gene first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 7 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Gene a popular boy name?
Gene ranked #2233 among boys in 2025 with 63 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2086.
When was the name Gene most popular?
Gene peaked in 1937, when 3,165 American boys received the name (ranked #61 that year). Since 1937 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Gene?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 28,571 newborn American boys was named Gene. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.